On the morning of February 26, 1999, officers responded to 3800 Riley Street to investigate a foul odor coming from a parked Dodge van. Inside the van, the officers found the body of 53-year-old Susan Cohen, who had been strangled to death.

According to witnesses, the van had been parked in the same spot for at least two weeks. During that time, several young white females and a dark-complected male (possibly Middle-Eastern) were seen loitering next to the van on several occasions.

Cohen had lived and frequented Ocean Beach and Imperial Beach for many years. She was known to people on the street as Susie. Cohen sometimes lived on the street herself, and sometimes stayed with friends or lived in vehicles. Cohen and her friends were regular visitors at the Viejas Indian Casino and the Sycuan Gaming Casino. Cohen was also peripherally involved in the drug world, occasionally using methamphetamine and/or dealing in small quantities.